Comment by bee_rider
1 day ago
It is interesting that the wording specifies “the useful arts.” Perhaps implying the existence of non-useful arts. I wonder what they meant there.
I would include a lot of media as non-useful arts. Like maybe someone could argue that really thoughtful movies are useful as works of philosophy or education. But most movies, especially most blockbusters are basically non-useful, right? They are just for fun. And so shouldn’t be covered by copyright.
From my understanding of it, "arts" doesn't even refer to artistic works, but more the work of artisans, those skilled in a manufacturing craft. By the same token, "sciences" doesn't just refer to the institution of Science, but of all human knowledge.